Student School Nurse | Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust

Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust; Horsham; On-site; GBP 31,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional healthcare organization in West Sussex seeks a Student School Nurse to lead the Healthy Child Programme. This role combines online study with practical placements to develop nursing skills. Candidates must be NMC-registered nurses or midwives and passionate about public health. The organization offers flexible working options and a supportive environment for professional growth.

Benefits

Flexible working options

Training and development opportunities

Supportive environment including wellbeing services

Qualifications

• Registered nurse or midwife with NMC registration.
• Must be eligible for PGDip SCPHN at Oxford Brookes.
• Experience working with children, parents, or in public health preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Healthy Child Programme for school-age children.
• Collaborate with agencies to improve health outcomes.
• Participate in both online study and practical placements.

Skills

Communication skills

Leadership skills

Assessment skills

Education

NMC registration

Eligibility for PGDip SCPHN

Job description

Overview

Student School Nurse – Oct 2025 Start. Oxford Brookes University (Placements in West Sussex & Brighton & Hove). Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust offers a fully funded PGDip or MSc in Specialist Community Public Health Nursing (School Nursing), open to NMC-registered nurses or midwives.

We’re looking for passionate, motivated professionals with strong communication, assessment, and leadership skills, and an interest in the Healthy Child Programme, public health, and reducing health inequalities.

The course is 50% online university study and 50% in-person placement in West Sussex or Brighton & Hove.

Requirements

• NMC registration (nurse or midwife)
• Eligible for PGDip SCPHN (School Nursing) at Oxford Brookes

Notes

Subject to NHS England funding.

Please note: Due to recent changes in UK immigration and visa rules, this role is unlikely to be eligible for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship. Applicants who do not currently have the right to work in the UK may not be considered. Candidates requiring sponsorship should review the eligibility criteria on the gov.uk website before applying to assess their eligibility for a Certificate of Sponsorship for this role.

Role and expectations

School Nurses lead the 5-19 Healthy Child Programme in Brighton and Hove and West Sussex. As a student school nurse, you will be an adult learner and this requires you to be self-motivated, enthusiastic, resilient and dedicated to the role. As a qualified SCPHN you will be leading the 5-19 Healthy Child Programme (HCP) working directly with school-age children and young people, their parents and carers. You will have a passion for public health and improving outcomes for children in West Sussex and Brighton & Hove through progressive universalism and early intervention. We are looking for compassionate and child-focused nurses and midwives who can demonstrate an understanding of holistic assessment, the wider determinants of health and capacity building. You will need to have excellent communication skills and some experience of working collaboratively with other agencies.

This is not just a set of letters but the pathway to a varied, worthwhile and rewarding career.

Don’t miss out on an incredible opportunity, apply now.

Our Trust and benefits

We are the main provider of NHS community services across East and West Sussex, with 6,000 staff serving 1.3 million people. We deliver essential care to adults and children, helping them manage their health, avoid hospital admissions, and reduce hospital stays.

Our Trust vision is to provide excellent care at the heart of the community. We offer opportunities across medical, clinical, support, and corporate services.

Why work for us?

• Positive 2025 NHS Staff Survey results, highlighting compassionate leadership and wellbeing
• Varied environments: community hospitals, patients’ homes, and bases across Sussex
• Flexible working options: part-time, flexi-time, annualised hours, and flexi-retirement
• Excellent training, development, and research opportunities
• Cost-effective workplace nurseries in Crawley, Hove, and Brighton
• Active EMBRACE, Disability & Wellbeing, LGBTQIA+, and Religion & Belief networks
• Level 3 Disability Confident Leader and Veteran Aware Trust
• Beautiful Sussex location near the South Downs and coast

Our values—Compassionate Care, Working Together, Achieving Ambitions, Delivering Excellence—guide everything we do.

We embrace diversity and encourage applications from all backgrounds, particularly from ethnically diverse, disabled, and LGBTQIA+ individuals. We aim to create an inclusive environment and support reasonable adjustments during recruitment.

This post may close early if sufficient applications are received.

Please see job description and person specification.

Please note that clinical placements can be anywhere in West Sussex and Brighton and Hove, and we do take into consideration where you live and caring responsibilities.

What we will offer

• A dedicated Practice supervisor, Practice Assessor and Academic Assessor for the duration of the course
• A high level of support with regular meetings and opportunities to discuss your progress and learning needs
• Support from the wider Practice Educator team
• Group supervision sessions during consolidation
• A trust that offers a wide range of support and benefits for its staff including; a Diversity & Inclusion Team, a Disability and Wellbeing Network, and a new Mental Health and Wellbeing Support Service

How to apply

Please use your application and supporting information to demonstrate how you meet the person specification for this role. If you would like more information please email [e-mail]

Successful candidates will also need to apply to the University separately and meet the academic entry requirements for the course at level 7.

Closing date

This advert closes on Sunday 28 Sep 2025